
Brianna Stewart scored 16 factors to guide the US to an 85-64 victory over Australia within the first semifinal of the Paris Olympics on Friday, advancing to its eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal sport.
America (5-0) will face the winner of the opposite semifinal between Belgium and France scheduled for later Friday in Sunday’s gold medal sport. Within the bronze medal match, Australia will face the loser.
It is going to be a rematch towards Belgium. Within the group match on August 1, the US defeated Belgium 87-74.
Stewart made 6 of 12 photographs, a three-pointer, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. A’ja Wilson completed with 10 factors, eight rebounds and 4 blocks, whereas her Vegas Aces teammate Jackie Younger, making her second consecutive begin, completed with 10 factors, eight rebounds and 4 blocks. 14 factors and 5 assists. Kahleah Copper got here off the bench to attain 11 factors, six rebounds and three assists.
Isobel Borlase scored 11 factors to guide the Opals (3-2), whereas Marianna Tolo and Tess Madgen every had 10 level. Veteran Lauren Jackson — a four-time Olympic medalist and former three-time WNBA MVP — performed solely transient minutes and had only one rebound and one steal.
Nonetheless, Australia may have their first probability at a medal since Jackson was final known as as much as the nationwide staff in 2012, after they received bronze in London.
The U.S. by no means trailed behind Australia and tied with Australia simply 26 seconds into the primary quarter. Chelsea Grey’s layup broke the U.S. staff’s lead and sparked a 12-2 run.
Coming into the second quarter, the Opals trailed by 4 factors, however Group USA used a 14-2 run to tug away and simply acquire a 16-point benefit. Koper had two assists and a 3-pointer in that span. Then Stewart hit a mid-range jumper, and the US staff led by 21 factors within the second sport.
In the course of the third quarter, pushed by Wilson’s six factors and two rebounds, the US went on a 16-4 run to guide by 27 factors.
The U.S. staff shot 50% from the sphere and had 31 assists on 34 makes an attempt. America outrebounded Australia 46-34.
Group USA has now received 60 consecutive video games on the Olympics, a streak relationship again to 1992.
–Scene-level media